A sales engineer is a technical sales professional who sells complex products or services to customers. Unlike other types of sales representatives, sales engineers have a strong technical background and often support customers after they purchase a product or service. Most employers require a bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, a strong technical aptitude and interpersonal skills for this occupation.

A sales engineer is a technical sales professional who sells complex products or services to customers. Unlike other types of sales representatives, sales engineers have a strong technical background and often support customers after they purchase a product or service. Most employers require a bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, a strong technical aptitude and interpersonal skills for this occupation.

Compensation Package

Sales engineers receive a base salary and bonuses or commissions for the products and services they sell. Compensation packages vary greatly by employer, depending on the complexity of the products and services sold. In 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated an average compensation package of $97,320 per year, which includes bonuses or commissions. To keep sales engineers motivated, many employers offer additional cash incentives for top sales performers. Some employers offer straight commission with no base salary.

Benefits

The benefits for sales engineers also vary greatly. Some employers offer benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, pension or 401K. Some sales engineers travel extensively and receive perks such as a company car, cell phone and reimbursement for meals and travel expenses.

Variances

Although BLS’ average compensation package is based on 65,580 sales engineers employed in the United States in 2011, it can vary greatly based on the type of products and services sold, the employer’s overall revenue and the sales engineers’ experience. The highest levels of employment of sales engineers were in the computer systems design industry, which paid an average compensation package of $108,660 per year. The highest compensation package for sales engineers was in the petroleum products wholesale industry, where sales engineers earned an average compensation package of $163,780 per year.

Career Outlook

BLS expects 14 percent growth for sales engineers between 2010 and 2020. Among employers that hire sales engineers, the majority of growth is expected with employers that design and sell technology products. The demand for these products will increase, leading to employers hiring sales engineers. Employment with independent sales organizations, referred to as distributors, is expected to see the strongest growth because many companies outsource their sales efforts to these agencies to reduce internal costs.

2016 Salary Information for Sales Engineers

Sales engineers earned a median annual salary of $100,000 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, sales engineers earned a 25th percentile salary of $74,400, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $132,080, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 74,900 people were employed in the U.S. as sales engineers.

About the Author

Elvis Michael has been writing professionally since 2007, contributing technology articles to various online outlets. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in information technology at Northeastern University.